Sep 11 15:49:08 105 PA
From Chronicles
tiamat_riftsThe current game time is: Fri Sep 11 15:49:08 105 PA.
Kingsdale - Moe's Tavern
You enter the smoke filled tavern called Moe's. Music blares from an ancient looking CD Jukebox. Inside is a collection of residents of Dregtown in varying states of intoxication. Juicers, Borgs, City Rats all sitting and drinking side by sde. Of course a few skulls roll from time to time but the Large bouncer standing by the door is over 7 feet tall and looks as if he means business. The places has a musty, old smell and the decor is dingy and yellowed with time. The red carpet on the floors is well worn and the paint is peeling off the walls. Still this don't keep the locals away as Moe's is a favorite.
The long bar, booths against the wall oppostite the bar, and the tables all seem very used, yet are strong...made of some reinforced material that's sturdy enough for the angriest juicer. A vid-screen behind the bar shows the JuicerBall game and the bar is packed with patrons clamoring for a drink...ya see there ain't no waitresses at Moes.
There is a smaller room to the back with a pool table. Not many people use the pool table on the count of the group of men, a few of whick are juicers, who usually play cards in the back room. Finally of interest in the bar is the video poker machines Moe' placed for your convienance. Winnings may be redeamed at the bar. There is also a bathroom door, a back door past the pool table and stairs going up and down behind the bar.
"..Jukebox Hero..with stars in his eyes.." Is the repeating lyric coming from the ancient Jukebox. It is around midday, and those coming off a hard nights work at the factories and other labor intensive jobs are filling in. The bar seems to be in the quite of before the storm though. At the bar sits Rune, a lone figure, drinking what seems to be an Elf favorite, Mint schnapps. The seats around him are empty, but he seems to be telling a story to the bartender. "..this world had the most interesting music ever. Not like here. The entire world would stop and sing as one. The skies would shimmer with the energy and spirit of the people. But then there are the Prometheans.."
Victoria stalks in slowly, her tall form flowing from step to step with a curious predatory grace. Steel grey eyes scan around with a wariness so habitual she probably does it unconciously. One scanned she continues further within, making a line direct for the bar.
Rune continues his story, "..those people I think could be the most unique singers, but my voice is completely unable to even attempt it." With that, Rune takes a small sip of his minty drink. "..but it all comes down to faith." With that another sip. "That is the truest of song..of art. It's one of the secrets, you know.."
"Beer" Victoria says in a low gutteral voice, although not quite as bestial as many of her wild cousins. She sits at a corner, where she can keep her back to a wall, and keep an eye on those comming in and out. Her gaze idly wanders over Rune for a moment, her head tilting to one side in a curiously animalistic manner before shifting away and offering a polite smile to the bartender.
Desmond is one such individual who rolls into the place, still with a subtle smell of 'flame and metal' clinging to his fur from a mere hour before, detectable to those with keen senses. On entry, his eyes turn immediately towards the bar, even as his steady ingress angles in that direction. But it would be clear from the slight, disappointed frown that he doesn't find what he seems, even before he draws near to it. The person behind the bar isn't her. This slows him, his expression firming slightly as he considers, still halfway between front and bar.
The bartender seems to find the distraction of Victoria's smile welcoming, and nods to Rune to step away. The man turns to look at Victoria and gives a quick look over. Fixing his glasses he turns back to his drink, but as he does he notes the entrance of the large feline. A respectful nod is give but that is all at the moment as Rune returns to his drink.
Victoria nods to Desmond as she spies him entering, then reaches down into her belt for some currency. Tossing it on the bar she leans back a little and catches the look of disapointment on the large feline's face "Howdy" she calls out, lifting one gloved hand in a wave.
Desmond will note those at the bar after a few moments of mute consideration. Just in time to see the nods given to him. His expression slides back into its usual state of straight neutral as he resumes his forward motion towards the bar. He waits until he nears before responding, dipping his head once to Victoria. "Vee," he rumbles in manner of greeting before his eyes shift towards Rune as well, giving the man a mute nod as a name doesn't readily come to the front of his mind.
The storyteller has gone silent now, as it seems two individuals, Vee and Desmond know each other. With following what seems to be the custom Rune will stay where he is, waiting for his victim to come back to discuss more details of the Megaverse topic: singing.
Victoria nods and smiles her thanks politely as her beer arrives, although their is little warmth in her pale face. She takes a sip then glances up to Desmond with a fainter smile "Looking for someone?" she asks, her gutteral voice a little dry.
Desmond looks back to Victoria, a ghost of that prior frown resurfacing. "Yes, but she is not here," he states simply. "But I am patient." Reaffirming that even as he glances towards the staff doors briefly. Denied still, his attention returns to his immediate surroundings, glancing between the two. "You are both well, I assume?" Deep rumbled words given some actual interest. Not just the idle words of one with naught else to do. Rune pages: That directed at Rune when you say you two?
Rune raises a brow as Desmond's voice targets him in addition to Victoria. Turning on his stool to look at the large feline, the man is taken back by this question and then finally reveals a nod, but there is something hidden there. Turning to look at Victoria, "I seem to have been placed into this conversation. But I am a stranger among the Warriors of the city it seems. You can call me, Rune." The jukebox goes silent as it starts its random selection of new music.
Victoria strips her gloves off slowly, her long pale fingers calloused from hard work and each tipped by a long sharp nail "Not bad" she says simply, absently tapping them on the glass in front of her. She looks to Rune and nods once "Vee" she says simply.
"We have met, thus stranger you are not," Desmond tells Rune. "Not well know, but not truly a stranger. Well met, Rune." All simply stated, a nod given to Victoria at her own response to his query. He looks back to Rune and adds then, "I have not met your offer yet, in part due to personal matters. Things that take much of my attention. But I would assure you I have not forgotten such. In time, I am sure we will be able to speak further on the topics mentioned before." He, himself, seems to have no designs on refreshment, that alone unusual for most who come here.
The staff doors do move then, swinging open to let Aimee through. Her hands are busy tying a small apron around her waist, over the flared skirt she wears, and her curls fall forward as she checks it's position before she moves towards the bar, her heels clicking on the floor as she moves. Her step checks only briefly at the sight of Desmond and her smile doesn't change so much as tighten and become more firmly fixed into place. She lifts a hand in greeting, but to Victoria, "Vee! Hi!" She calls, before giving Desmond an abrupt nod, "Desmond." She turns to serve a customer.
"I am glad to hear that, Sir Desmond. I look forward to sharing ideas and abilities." The scholarly man nods his head to Vee, but his attention is caught by the new comer. A tilt of his head as he takes note of the changing emotions between the entering Aimee and Desmond. At this moment, Rune remains silent to let the situation play out, respectfully. Victoria chuckles softly at something, the humor softening her hard face for a moment before she muffles it behind an upraised beerglass. She takes a small sip then as it comes down she nods towards Aimee politely enough "Howdy" she rumbles in simple greeting, lifting one hand to return the other woman's wave.
Desmond perks when Aimee emerges, his head turning at once. Just soon enough to catch the tightening of that smile. But it doesn't seem to phase him and the "Aimee' that comes from him is just the same as she's always heard it. Warm. Inviting. He will watch her for a few moments. Waiting silently until the most immediate drink dispensing ends for her. To see that she will not miss as he rumbles to her, "What will it take?" Just that and no more.
She puts the glass in front of the customer, her cheeks slightly flushed as she takes the credits, giving him a quick smile. Desmond's comments get him a look from those green eyes, without emotion. "Perhaps for you to roll back time, and not lie to me, or hide drugs." She replies before she turns her back, giving the stranger in the bar an assessing look. Rune grabs his small glass of mint schnapps, and looks to Vee. "Perhaps m'lady we should let these two have some privacy? Would you join me at that seat over there?" The man nods to an empty booth across the room.
Victoria turns to look at Rune, blinking once as her hand points to her chest "M'lady?" she asks then barks a laugh "First time I have been called that" the psi-stalker comments with a snort flaring her nostrils. She looks at the booth and frowns once, eyes checking it over carefully before she nods and heads over.
Desmond meets Aimee's response without a a flinch, though he does pause to glance towards Rune, then to Victoria. "Pardon, but one can only wait so long.. this discussion is long overdue." His only apology before he fixes on Aimee once more. "I would argue that point again, but it seems no matter what I say, you will not be swayed. Shall I then let you search through all of my things when I return home each day? Regale you with every aspect of the day that passes, no matter how large or small? If need be, I will to soothe your doubts. Such that even if I might forget something, that you will not be deprived."
"That isn't necessary, there isn't anything to say." Aimee comments at Rune's suggestion, contradicting Desmond's. She turns, reaching for her notepad as someone leans on the bar, a menu in their hand. "I don't know." She replies to Desmond, swiftly writing down the order, turning to push it through to the kitchen. "I don't know, Desmond. I think, me, that I need time to think. You and mon jumelee..." She shrugs.
Rune ignores Aimee, and takes a seat with Vee. In a low voice the man says, "..I didn't see that coming. I suppose it is best to stay out of others business." The man takes a sip of his drink and asks Vee, "So tell me about yourself. I am just a plain man, so not much to tell."
"Heard that one before" Victoria replies dryly to Rune as she watches him across the table. She lifts one broad shoulder in a shrug as she leans back away, one hand dropping down to her side "Not much to say, another merc looking for work. Although one with an odd diet" she adds with a sardonic half smile.
"You have had time," Desmond states firmly, but without his voice rising from its natural volume. "I have gotten rid of the pills. I no longer look into the matter of battle stimulants as I did before. I am willing to accommodate you, to regain what was lost. As I have been before, each time we have seen trouble. And each day that you do not return, I mourn another day wasted, where memories are not made. So too I wonder how one moment of forgetfulness could bring such distrust from you, when my every breath has been to honor you." "Then if I'd enough time, Desmond, you tell me what is inside my head, what I am thinking?" That is a definite snap, her green eyes flashing a look with temper brimming in them towards the feline. "Do I come to your work and complain? Non. I come to work, I work, I sleep, I think." She shrugs, throwing up her hands, her temper flaring red in her cheeks. "You make it sound as if I am being unreasonable, not wishing to see how wrong I am, not wishing for all these drugs..." She folds her arms, glowering at him.
"A weird diet? I doubt that. Well I actually doubt that word. In a universe like the one we are in, there is nothing weird or bizarre, just what is." This said in a very philosopher type voice if not monk like. Rune turns to look at Desmond and Aimee, as if something horrible something beyond the norms was just said. Slowly the man reaches to his chest where brushes and pens are held. But nothing is there. Perhaps something that once was. Rune turns back to the table at the booth and lowers his head. In a low voice, "It is always sad to hear words that they speak. Mortal, immortal, living, dead..they all have them and all fear them."
Victoria lifts her beer up and takes another small sip. She snorts once and settles it down to glance over the couple briefly then back to Rune "You do know what I am?" she points out with a gesture over her totaly hairless scalp.
Desmond frowns faintly and rumbles to Aimee, "When you will not come to speak to me, I will come to you. As I said. I think you are scared as before. That I can understand. Emotion is unreasonable, but that I do not fault you for. What I do find unreasonable is that you do not seek top resolve this with me. That you do not seek understanding with me. All that has come before, we have solved together. Why would this time be any different?" His own outward emotional state remains relatively stable, with only shallow peaks and ebbs to be found.
Rune shakes his head, "I haven't even thought on it, m'lady. And I apologies, usually I am more keen on the different races. So what are you?" A polite forced grin is given, as Rune tries to not eavesdrop on the two.
Aimee glances over at the couple at the table, her eyes curious as she turns back to Desmond, arms folded over her chest. "Because we always fight, and there is always something, and sometimes..." She shrugs again, her gaze moving off. "I think perhaps I am tired, and I don't want to anymore." She glances at her supervisor, questioningly, before untying the apron.
A touch of surprise touches her hard face as she looks over the table towards Rune, both eyes widening "Seriously?" she says then leans back to let out a slow breath "You new to, well anywhere here?" she asks with a low chuckle "I am a psi-stalker, we eat..well magic I guess you could say. Kind of"
Rune raises a brow to this, and nods. "That is a very interesting diet, but not something I haven't heard of." A pause, "I would very much like to continue this discussion. But I need to take my leave. Perhaps you can drop by the library? This is where I mostly spend my time." The man turns his eyes to the two at the bar, making mental sigh, perhaps in pity, perhaps in annoyance, perhaps in some internal shame or emotion he finds in relation to them.
Desmond closes his eyes as that is brought out. Quite a few potential responses come to mind, but ultimately he simply let there be a few moments of silence. It takes a few moments to keep that solid control, that steady demeanor. "Such is the way of relationships. You and your brother fight, but you do not turn from him." His eyes open slowly and he fixes his gaze on her firmly. "But you would turn from me? I wonder at times, Aimee.. do you truly love me?" The words given not a hint of sarcasm. "Perhaps I will leave you to consider that too, for so often you think to pull away from me.. what else could one assume?"
Aimee sighs, putting the apron down on the counter. "You don't know anything about my brother and I, and how we were." She comments softly, turning to move around the bar, moving to the seat. "This is why I need to think, to be sure, for certain." She lifts her hands in a sign of defeat, moving towards the doors, cheeks flushed.
Victoria chuckles and shrugs one shoulder in reply to Rune's offer "Can say I have ever been in a library" she admits with a wry smile curving one side of her mouth. She leans back again and nods once "Maybe yeah.." she says non-comittaly as her gaze shifts over to the fueding couple.
Desmond remains where he stands, without pivoting to follow her path as she moves around the bar to depart. "Then perhaps you should come to tell me some time," he rumbles to her as she moves towards the door. "Until then, I will wait. As I ever have." All without turning. His head dips slightly as she goes, the big male going silent for the moment.
Aimee doesn't respond, her skirt twirling as she moves out of the door and is gone.
Victoria drains the last of her beer and sets it aside on the table. She watches Aimee depart and turns her gaze up towards the large mutant feline "That didn't seem to go to well" she says imply, a faint trace of sympathy in her expression.
Desmond's ears flick towards the sound of Victoria's voice whilst the rest of him remains utterly still. A slow, deep breath is drawn by the big male and released before he seems to 'animate', head lifting, his stance shifting as he turns. Mutely he approaches where Victoria had gone to settle, now sans Rune. He will sit across from her, only speaking once he has settled. "No, it did not."
Victoria nods once, the faint sympathy still on her hard pale features "I got no advice" she says simply with a wry snort flaring her nostrils "Not something I have exprience in" she adds then turns her gaze after the departing Rune "So who is he?"
Desmond shakes his head slightly. "I have met him just once before," he rumbles, his flat level, tightly controlled. Letting the other topic end without truly beginning, silent acknowledgement of Victoria's words. "I know little about him, save that he has an interest in art. He wishes to discuss such things with me, though my own talent in such is limited.. new."
Victoria's eyes become a little flat at talk of art. She nods towards Desmond and looks towards the door "He certainly seems pretty new to america" she says thoughtfully then glances back with a wolfish smile across her face "If he doesn't know a psi-stalker right away"
Desmond considers that for a few moments before he replies, "There many be some who know not of such things. The isolated.. the indifferent." He shakes his head slightly. "But yes.. it seems unlikely. I know not his origins, but it would seem then that he is of that minority."
"The remarkably stupid" Victoria grunts although that same wolfish smile lingers on her pale features. She taps her sharp nails on the empty beer glass absently as her gaze shifts around "My wild cousins are known as something of a menance" she adds, a trace of what sounds almost like pride in her voice.
Desmond does not miss that, his head canted slightly as he considers Victoria for a few moments in silence. "I suppose some like to be feared. There is some use in it, though I find it a tool to use sparingly. Respect is a stronger state. To be loved stronger still." A subtle frown twitches into passing being, but it smoothes out almost as quickly as ht came about.
Victoria pauses a moment as she looks back over the table towards Desmond and then shrugs "It can be a nuisance still.." she raises a hand to gesture around "My people thrive out there without all the high-tech or magick that most need to survive" she says with a faint smile "Admitedly we are a menance in a lot of parts of the wilderness, but still. We survive where a lot of races couldn't"
Desmond nods his head once and states, "That is an accomplishment for sure. But I cann'y say I envy such an existence. In a manner of speaking, I have known what it is like to simply exist for a time. To survive. Living is far more appealing and not quite the same. Much the same it is for fear and respect." He considers Victoria for a moment before adding. "Your thoughts on such things?"
Victoria looks a little blankly across the table at Desmond. She tilts her head to one side and then the other as she considers, her nails tapping idly on the glass "Never really.." she begins then shrugs once and quirks a half smile "..I guess, service to something greater maybe. Some kind of purpose but.." she shrugs again "we are not known for deep thinking you know"
"Perhaps not, but it is within all, I would think," Desmond rumbles thoughtfully. "Service to a greater thing.. a curious path, one I have walked before. Better done when one can turn away, should they find it to be disagreeable, but not always is it so." He cants his head slightly and rumbles, "All eventually consider what will be their future. Don't think I seek your own answer on that in the now.. I had only just recently found my own. But I would perhaps turn your thoughts toward such a concept, that you might discover your answer in time."
Victoria goes back to a kind of blank stare as she looks over the table at Desmond. She pauses and then chuckles with a wry shake of her head "You have to be freeborn" she says at last with a wry snort "No-one who comes out of the CS is that well educated" she adds with a low chuckle.
Desmond shakes his head slightly. "No, I was not born free," he states. "But I have come to know much in my time here, short that it has been. I heave learned to read. To appreciate things that were.. unimportant before." A pause, once more delving into that brief moment of thought before his next words. "And you? You are not of the wild sort, I would assume. You are.." He lets his deep voice trail off. An open invitation without definition beyond that much.
"Civilised" Victoria replies simply, her expression carefully guarded. She falls silent for a few moments, although rarely still, her nails tapping absent patterns on the table "So what next with Aimee, wait and hope?"
Desmond nods once to what is offered, letting it stand at that. Though as she addresses that past issue, Desmond frowns slightly. His eyes dip and he muses for some time. Long enough that one might think he'll not answer. But he does, letting his eyes linger in their lowered state. "I wait. It seems I can do nothing to effect her, to bring her back. Thus I must let her decide. Such as she has done before, though perhaps this time I will not find myself favored." Though his mood has obviously taken a downward slide, his tone remains steady enough, kept firmly within that comfortable realm of neutrality. "Perhaps it is good we have not yet joined as per the human means of union. Better that she know her path before she makes such vows."
Victoria nods once a touch absently as her gaze shifts to the streets outside. She falls silent a few moments then looks back to him with a brief nod "Yeah I guess patience is the best idea when hunting. And knowing the right moment to strike" she pauses here again then quirks a faint smile "Of course not sure how that applies to human women. Anyway I should be on my way"
"One cannot simply capture a flame," Desmond replies cryptically, his eyes lifting. "But your words are appreciated nonetheless. Farewell, Vee. Should you find a great thing to be a part of, do so with care. Do not let yourself be led to where you do not wish to go." His head given a slight dip towards her.Tags:aimee, desmond, rune, victoria
